I am getting a little disappointed with the beauty industry again. Did you know that the word organic is practically meaningless? Just because an organic hair product is labeled as so doesn’t mean that it is an actual organic product. In fact the word organic is an adjective that is very misrepresented on all kinds of products.
Ever wonder why Clairol Herbal Essences sells you an “Organic Herbal Experience” rather than a label that say Organic Shampoo? It is because it is not an organic shampoo. Containing a few herbs is not enough. Every single company selling organic hair products on the market today including Lush, Aveda, Avalon and the Body Shop is marketing things falsely as organic. This is part of catering to the all-natural trend in hair care, which started with labeling products as “natural” when they aren’t as all. In fact the phrase “natural” is practically meaningless nowadays
Maybe you have heard of that organic cosmetic line called Nature’s Gate. Nature’s Gate uses such chemical compounds as olefin sulfonate and cocamidopropul, betain and sudsing and foaming agents in its line of Organics shampoos. Avalon Natural Products brand shower gels, shave creams and shampoos contain petroleum.
A lot of people are very upset about this type of mislabeling and believe that states and provinces in North America should do what California has done and pass a law that says the ingredients must be more than 70% organic for it to be allowed to label itself as so. I want the real thing, not just an experience that mimics it.
The reason it is taking so long for this type of legislation to go through is because legislators and manufactuers cannot arrive at a mutually agreeable definition of what organic is. For instance you might think that you are using an organic conditioner if you grab an avocado out of your refrigerator and mash it up and apply it to your hair. Contrary to popular belief this is not an organic hair product unless the avocado comes from an organic farm and has been certified as organic by the Food and Drug Administration. You are simply using a vegetable to wash your hair.
Yet another source of debate is the use of hydrosols in organic hair products. Many hair products say that they contain essential oils when really it is just water collected after the steaming of herbs. Also there is some question over whether or not a flower or essential oil can be called organic if it is not made on an organic farm.
Products that are truly organic are easily identified just through using them. For instance, a truly organic shampoo will not create lather as it lacks the chemicals and foaming agents that are put into most organic hair products that are marketed today. Organic hair products will also not smell very strong. This is because most organic hair products on the market today also have added scents that are not necessarily derived from any kind of wild or natural source.